Sweden is set to enforce a ban on gambling credit from April 2026.
The country’s Ministry of Finance has submitted a bill to parliament that would stop licensees and gambling operators from allowing or contributing to credit-financed betting.
The government ministry said: “The purpose of the new regulation is to prevent indebtedness due to gambling for money.”
Operators will be required to take appropriate measures to prevent the practice across all forms of licensed gambling.
Earlier this month it was revealed Sweden’s gambling channelisation rate dropped to 85% in 2024.
The legislative amendment is set to come into play on 1 April 2026, subject to parliamentary approval as regulators across Europe continue to tighten consumer protection measures in the gambling sector.
There is already existing framework in Sweden that prevents operators from directly extending credit to customers but the new legislation will introduce extra obligations on licensees to actively prohibit third-party credit being used for gambling.
When Sweden re-regulated its gambling market six years ago, credit card payments were prohibited. The restriction was limited however and there were different forms of borrowing such as BNPL products and overdrafts which meant credit-funded betting still continued.
Consumer groups and regulators highlighted that this void failed to protect vulnerable players and a push was made to close the remaining loopholes. A government inquiry was commissioned and a report known as the ‘Överskuldsättningsutredningen’ found a clear link between gambling-related debt and long-term financial harm.
Licensed operators will have to ensure that from April 2026, no customer funds used for gambling come from credit facilities. Protocols include blocking credit cards as a payment method and using real-time monitoring to detect possible credit use.
Alongside refusing transactions where there are signs of borrowed funds and applying the duty of care when players show risky financial behaviour.
Sweden’s gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, will oversee enforcement, working with the financial supervisory authority and consumer agency. They will manage financial monitoring, responsible gambling standards and consumer protection.
Joe Lyons is a betting industry writer for GamblingIndustryNews with years of experience on reputable gambling websites. Joe specialises in long form content in the world of sports betting and gambling. Joe is recognised as an expert in sports fields such as horse racing, soccer, NFL and NBA.
